By Katharine Q. Seelye Published: June 13, 2008
Tim Russert, the host of "Meet the Press," and NBC's Washington bureau chief, has died. He was 58.
Mr. Russert was a towering figure in American journalism and moderated several debates during the recent presidential primary season.
Tom Brokaw, the former anchor of NBC Nightly News, came on the air at 3:39 p.m. and reported that Mr. Russert had collapsed and died early this afternoon while at work. He had just returned from Italy with his family.
"Our beloved colleague," a grave Mr. Brokaw called him, one of the premier journalists of our time. He said this was one of the most important years in his life, with his deep engagement in the network's political coverage, and that he "worked to the point of exhaustion." Mr. Brokaw said Mr. Russert was a true child of Buffalo and always stayed in touch with his blue collar roots and "the ethos of that community."
He said Mr. Russert had just moved his father, who is in his late 80s, from one facility to another in Buffalo. He said he loved his family, his Catholic faith, his country, politics, the Buffalo Bills, the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals.
"This news division will not be the same without his strong, clear voice," Mr. Brokaw said.
After Mr. Brokaw made the announcement, the network switched to Brian Williams, the anchor of the NBC News, who is reporting from Afghanistan this week. Mr. Williams broke down as he tried to describe what the loss meant to his network family.
The network is struggling through shock and grief to bring the story of Mr. Russert's life and journalistic achievements to its viewers immediately. Andrea Mitchell is describing him as "the pre-eminent journalist of our time" and said he was her mentor.
Mr. Williams said that Mr. Russert, trained as a lawyer, was "always about fairness." The network is replaying moments of Mr. Russert and Mr. Williams co-moderating a recent debate.
Mr. Russert worked for two prominent New York Democrats, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Gov. Mario Cuomo, before being hired in 1984 by NBC in its Washington bureau. He became bureau chief four years later.
